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Thursday, January 24, 2013

"There is no such word as impossible."

I was standing at the kitchen counter yesterday, scarfing down a bowl of leftover sweet-and-sour chickenand reflecting. Reflecting about my writing, about my goals, and wondering if they were ever going to happen because let's be honest, there are SO MANY great writers out there, way better than I could ever hope to be (no, that's not me fishing for reassurance from anyone, I'm just being perfectly honest). I was right in the middle of reevaluating and telling myself that I probably had pretty lofty goals, that I should adjust my expectations and focus more on reality when Ethan, who was sitting in his Dad's chair with his back to me and lost in his world of playing "Bad Piggies," suddenly blurted out,

"There is no such word as impossible." He half-turned and looked at me out of the corner of his eye and said it again, "Mom, there is no such word as impossible."

Then he quietly went back to his "Bad Piggies" world. I stood there for several moments, chills creeping up my arms at the incredible, almost telepathic, timing of my son saying that phrase, a phrase I've never heard him speak before, right when I was in the middle of self-doubting and feeling that perhaps some goals that I want to achieve weren't possible.After a minute, I smiled to myself and felt a little boost of optimism. And I went over to my computer to write the story down so that in the future, when I look in front of me and see a giant obstacle looming, I will remember to hear a little six-year-old's voice saying,

Ethan is a very smart boy. Also he likes bad piggies which my middle son loves too (he's 5). really though you have great kids, and honestly you are talented because I enjoy reading whatever you post. Oh and i forgot to comment on your picture with the title ..that is awesome.

I like to remind myself that there are a lot of mediocre writers out there, getting paid to do what they presumably love. why couldn't I be one of those mediocre writer's? No reason I can't one day be. So long as I keep writing...

That's reassuring to read that you self-doubt, too. I went through a phase where I did for a week or so last fall, and it was the first time I experienced it and it rocked me a bit. I didn't realize that others went through it, too. Thanks, Christine.